NHL: Penguins defeat Senators to even series
{{date|April 14, 2007}}

''Series even at 1-1. (Best of Seven)''

{{Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007}}

{{MatchScore| Pittsburgh Penguins|4|3|Ottawa Senators}}

The [[w:Pittsburgh Penguins|Pittsburgh Penguins]] won their first playoff game since 2001, as they defeated the [[w:Ottawa Senators|Ottawa Senators]], Saturday afternoon. [[w:Sidney Crosby|Sidney Crosby]] scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period, when he redirected a pass from teammate [[w:Mark Recchi|Mark Recchi]] into the net behind Ottawa goaltender [[w:Ray Emery|Ray Emery]]. The Senators weren't pleased with the goaltending of Ray Emery, who despite only facing 21 shots, allowed four goals. Penguins netminder [[w:Marc-Andre Fleury|Marc-Andre Fleury]], however, was spectacular at times, denying 34 of 37 Senators' shots, including a game-saving stop of [[w:Mike Fisher|Mike Fisher]] from the slot with 13.3 seconds remaining in regulation.  The Penguins acquired [[w:Gary Roberts|Gary Roberts]] from the [[w:Florida Panthers|Florida Panthers]] for playoff experience, and that is what he gave the team today, scoring the game-tying goal in the third, and adding an assist. The Penguins and Senators are now tied in the best-of-seven series, with one game apiece.

[[w:Ryan Whitney|Ryan Whitney]] gave the Pens the early lead when he scored his first goal of the postseason at 3:01, during a [[w:power play|power play]] opportunity. Ottawa would rally to take a 2-1 lead in the second, with [[w:Jason Spezza|Jason Spezza]] and captain [[w: Daniel Alfredsson|Daniel Alfredsson]] each receiving credit for goals. Pittsburgh would storm back to tie the game in the third, when [[w:Gary Roberts|Gary Roberts]] picked up his first postseason goal with the Penguins at 2:04. Ottawa would answer with a goal to retain the lead one last time. The Penguins rookie phenom [[w:Jordan Staal|Jordan Staal]] scored his second goal in as many games at 9:34. With the game tied at three goals apiece, [[w:Sidney Crosby|Sidney Crosby]], the youngest [[w:Art Ross|Art Ross]] [[w:Art Ross Trophy|trophy]] winner in [[w:NHL|NHL]] history would step up. [[w:Evgeni Malkin|Evgeni Malkin]] passed the puck to [[w:|Mark Recchi]], who would in turn move the puck up to Crosby where he would bury it behind the Senators' [[w:Ray Emery|Ray Emery]]. 

== Scoring Summary ==

{| border=1 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 1em 1em ; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; width:98%; border-bottom: none;" align=center
!colspan="7" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-collapse: collapse; border-top: none;"|<center>Scoring Summary</center>
|- style="background: #e9e9e9"   
! No. !! Period !! Time !! Team !! Scorer (No.) !! Assists !! Score
|- 
|1 || 1st || 3:01 || PIT ||Ryan Whitney (1) '''PP'''  || Sergei Gonchar, Sidney Crosby || 1-0
|-
|2 || 2nd || 8:28 || OTT ||Jason Spezza (1) || Daniel Alfredsson, Anton Volchenkov ||1-1
|-
|3 || 2nd || 16:44 || OTT ||Daniel Alfredsson (1)  '''PP''' || Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza||1-2  
|-
|4 || 3rd || 2:04 || PIT || Gary Roberts (1) '''PP''' ||Sergei Gonchar, Evgeni Malkin||2-2
|-
|5 || 3rd || 6:18 || OTT || Chris Kelly (2) ||Dean McAmmond, Andrej Meszaros||2-3
|-
|6 || 3rd || 9:34 || PIT || Jordan Staal (2) || Michel Ouellet, Gary Roberts ||3-3
|-
|7 || 3rd || 11:44 || PIT || Sidney Crosby (2) || Mark Recchi, Evgeni Malkin || 4-3 
|-
|}

== Goaltending ==
{| border=1 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 1em 1em ; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; width:98%; border-bottom: none;" align=center
!colspan="7" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-collapse: collapse; border-top: none;"|<center>Goaltending</center>
|- style="background: #e9e9e9"   
! Team !! Player !! Shots !! Saves !! Save Pct. !!
|- 
|PIT|| Marc-Andre Flury || 37 || 34 || .919
|-
|OTT|| Ray Emery || 21 || 17 || .810
|-
|}

== Three Stars of the Game ==
'''#1''' = [[w:Gary Roberts|Gary Roberts]], LW, ''Pittsburgh Penguins'' - 1 Goal, 1 Assist

'''#2''' = [[w:Daniel Alfredsson|Daniel Alfredsson]], RW, ''Ottawa Senators'' - 1 Goal, 1 Assist

'''#3''' =  [[w:Sidney Crosby|Sidney Crosby]], C, ''Pittsburgh Penguins'' - 1 Goal, 1 Assist

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==
* 12 April 2007 - [[NHL: Nasty start to playoffs for Penguins, Senators]] 

== Sources ==
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/boxscore?gid=2007041414 Yahoo! Sports - Boxscore - Penguins 4, Senators 3]
* [http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20062007/GS030142.HTM NHL Online ReportViewer - Game Summary]
* [http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20062007/ES030142.HTM NHL Online ReportViewer - Event Summary]
* [http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20062007/PL030142.HTM NHL Online ReportViewer - Play-by-Play]

== External links ==
* [http://www.pittsburghpenguins.com Official website of the Pittsburgh Penguins]
* [http://www.ottawasenators.com Official website of the Ottawa Senators]
* [http://www.nhl.com National Hockey League Official Website]

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[[Category:Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007]]
[[Category:National Hockey League]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Ontario]]
[[Category:Ottawa, Ontario]]
[[Category:Ottawa Senators]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Penguins]]
[[Category:Ice hockey]]
Series even at 1-1. (Best of Seven)

The Pittsburgh Penguins won their first playoff game since 2001, as they defeated the Ottawa Senators, Saturday afternoon. Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period, when he redirected a pass from teammate Mark Recchi into the net behind Ottawa goaltender Ray Emery. The Senators weren't pleased with the goaltending of Ray Emery, who despite only facing 21 shots, allowed four goals. Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury, however, was spectacular at times, denying 34 of 37 Senators' shots, including a game-saving stop of Mike Fisher from the slot with 13.3 seconds remaining in regulation.  The Penguins acquired Gary Roberts from the Florida Panthers for playoff experience, and that is what he gave the team today, scoring the game-tying goal in the third, and adding an assist. The Penguins and Senators are now tied in the best-of-seven series, with one game apiece.

Ryan Whitney gave the Pens the early lead when he scored his first goal of the postseason at 3:01, during a power play opportunity. Ottawa would rally to take a 2-1 lead in the second, with Jason Spezza and captain Daniel Alfredsson each receiving credit for goals. Pittsburgh would storm back to tie the game in the third, when Gary Roberts picked up his first postseason goal with the Penguins at 2:04. Ottawa would answer with a goal to retain the lead one last time. The Penguins rookie phenom Jordan Staal scored his second goal in as many games at 9:34. With the game tied at three goals apiece, Sidney Crosby, the youngest Art Ross trophy winner in NHL history would step up. Evgeni Malkin passed the puck to Mark Recchi, who would in turn move the puck up to Crosby where he would bury it behind the Senators' Ray Emery. 

'#2' = Daniel Alfredsson, RW, Ottawa Senators - 1 Goal, 1 Assist

'#3' =  Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins - 1 Goal, 1 Assist
Stanley Cup Playoffs 2007 National Hockey League North America Sports United States Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Canada Ontario Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Senators Pittsburgh Penguins Ice hockey